A recent decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is a win for mobile phone users: Customers will soon be able to end their contracts without penalty after two years instead of three.

That was the big change
among other decisions outlined
in the CRTC’s new code of conduct. But you don’t need to wait until December 2, when these new rules come into effect, to save money on your mobile phone bill.

Just ask Andrea Iceruk, a 65 year-old Toronto resident, who felt she was paying too much for using her smartphone. “I wanted to find ways to lower my monthly bill, especially as I was retiring,” says the former jewellery designer.

Iceruk’s first step was to switch to the same provider as her home phone, television and high-speed Internet connection, a “bundling” move that saves her $16 a month. “Plus, my husband and I were able to save an additional $40 a month between us by using free Wi-Fi instead of roaming when we travel and going with a ‘Fab Five’ plan so I can call my daughter and close friends for free when I’m at our cottage in Minden,” says Iceruk, who uses an HTC smartphone with Bell Mobility.

Iceruk was also advised to contact her carrier to see if there were any other discounts — a move encouraged by Mark Goldberg, president of a telecom consulting firm based in Thornhill.

“Everything is negotiable,” Goldberg says. “My advice would be to shop around and check competitor pricing. It is a fiercely competitive market out there.”

Here are some ways to help lower your mobile phone bill:

Understand your usage

Choose a plan that suits your habits. Iceruk doesn’t use text messaging, so she took it off her plan. Ask yourself questions like: Do I talk more than I type? Am I only using the phone for emergencies” and Do really need a data plan if I use my phone mostly over Wi-Fi at home?

Your statement will shed light on your voice and data usage. Call your carrier to match your usage with the best plan. All the major mobile phone providers let you see how much data you’re using at any time throughout the month, usually via a password-protected website or smartphone app.

Travel smart

It is convenient for us to use our mobile phones in other countries, so we can be reached at our existing number.

But those roaming charges add up. To avoid coming home to a surprise on your bill, contact your carrier before you go to sign up for a roaming package. If you forget to let your carrier know ahead of time, you’ll likely get a text message when you land that outlines the rates for that country. When abroad, use a free Wi-Fi hotspot at a hotel, airport or café.

Resist data-heavy apps like YouTube, Netflix and online gaming. Opt for instant-messaging apps or text messages with family, friends and coworkers back home, as they’re cheaper than voice communication. Set your email to pull instead of push.

Bundling, trading in

As Iceruk discovered, you can save money by bundling your mobile phone plan with other services from the same company — such as home phone, high-speed Internet and television. But this might not be possible if your area isn’t supported by the provider, or if the provider doesn’t offer additional services; keep in mind you might need to commit to a certain period of time for this bundling incentive. Do your homework. Some carriers, including Telus, have a trade-in program that gives you an in-store credit for your used device.

Try a sharing plan – families and devices

Many providers allow you to share plans between people. This means you pay a flat rate per month for voice and/or data sharing between family members. A shared device data plan, on the other hand, means one account can covers multiple wireless devices at a reduced rate — for gadgets like tablets, smartphones, mobile Internet sticks (also referred to a turbo or rocket sticks) and personal hotspot devices (like the MiFi-branded products). This will likely be a more affordable solution than purchasing individual data plans for each device, but make sure you buy a big enough data “bucket” per month to handle all your online tasks.

Ask for a better deal

While an obvious tip, you’d be surprised how many people don’t consider it: Call your carrier and ask them to lower your bill. If you think you’re paying too much for your monthly voice or data plan, contact a customer service rep to see what they can trim or waive, such as applying a new promo code to save you some money or perhaps add more minutes or data to your existing plan. Or carriers might suggest a move to a different plan, one that’s better suited to your usage patterns (see first tip). All major carriers have seniors’ plans, too; Rogers, for example, has such plans starting at $18 a month for 100 minutes of talk time. Bottom line: Your mobile phone carrier doesn’t want to lose you to a rival company, so you might just be surprised at what they’ll do to keep your business.

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